Braidlocks Down Under - 4 months In

My name is Yahvinah and I have been natural for the past 9 years.

I, like many others, never chose to get a perm, it just got given to me, and for many years I was trapped in the cycle of perming and thinning, and all of the other things that come with it. In 2000 I decided it was time to end it, I was sick of dealing with the lifestyle, and I have never looked back.

I have never been a high maintenance girl as far as my hair, and I have really been looking for something that is nice looking, and does not require the CONSTANT battle that my longer natural hair required. (I was not a fan of detangling).

Lets just say I had a COUPLE of Big Chops since 2000...

I have always been interested in locking, but never knew where to start, I always thought it would be too hard, and I knew free-forming wasn't for me. It didn't help that I relocated to Australia, not exactly a Mecca of Black Hair Care...


After a long distance obsession with Sisterlocks, I finally decided that going overseas to get them installed, and maintenance was not an option for me. But then I found out about braidlocks.


After LOTS of research, I decided braidlocks were the way for me to go. (I originally had a set of 2 strand twists, but I have since switched to braids) 15 hours and ~400 braids later, I was on my way. My braidlocks were created on the 29 September 2009.

I am not much of a product junky, but I do intend on finding out what works for my hair, and also what level of maintenance will allow me a balance of ease and manageability.

I hope this blog of my trials and errors, can help other aspiring braidlockers on their journeys, and perhaps make the transition a little bit easier.

Please feel free to visit me at LOCS DOWN UNDER to see where my journey takes me!